Neurological patients neglected by NHS, report says

Sub-standard primary care treatment for people with neurological conditions is resulting in a high number of emergency hospital admissions, a new report has said.

A report by the Neurological Alliance accuses the NHS of neglecting patients through delays in diagnosis and failure to provide information on treatment options.

The Alliance said that the NHS reforms would not improve standards of care due to levers “not being mobilised to support improvements”.

The report called for the new bodies created as part of the Health and Social Care Act to address the “legacy of neglect” that has resulted in “unacceptable variations in outcomes and higher than necessary costs”.

Neurological conditions, such as epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, account for 5% of overall spending on the NHS.

The DH and the NHS Commissioning Board have now been challenged by the Alliance to devise indicators for quality of service that will overhaul and improve standards of care.

The DH said that discussions were already taking place to ensure that strategic clinical networks cover these conditions. “We are working closely with patient groups and health professionals to develop a new Long-Term Conditions Strategy,” said a spokesperson. “The NHS Commissioning Board is already planning to drive improvements to improve mental health services, dementia and neurological conditions.”

The Neurological Alliance is formed by 70 charities that work with people with related brain, spinal column or nerve conditions.